West Brom relegated from Premier League, Southampton win

Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini (L) celebrates scoring with Charlie Austin during the English Premier League football match between Swansea City and Southampton at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea, south Wales on May 8, 2018.

LONDON, May 9: West Brom were relegated from the Premier League on Tuesday after Southampton took a huge step towards keeping their place in the English top flight by beating fellow strugglers Swansea.
Darren Moore’s West Brom needed a draw between the Saints and Swans in south Wales to take their fight to avoid relegation into the final day of the season on Sunday. After more than 70 minutes of frenetic action, substitute Manolo Gabbiadini provided the decisive moment for Southampton when he reacted quickest to Charlie Austin’s parried shot in a crowded goalmouth.
Gabbiadini had only been on the pitch for four minutes and it was only his fifth goal of a difficult season for the Italian.
The result means Southampton move up to 16th in the table, three points clear of 18th-place Swansea, who are favourites to joint West Brom and Stoke in the Championship.
Southampton’s win confirmed West Brom’s return to the English second tier after eight seasons in the top flight, with an eighth-place finish the best the Baggies managed during the 2012/13 season with Steve Clarke in charge. (AFP)